Results 4,281-4,300 of 4,695 for speaker:Seán Canney

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I am pleased to introduce the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024 for the consideration of the House. The Bill establishes a marine accident investigation unit, MAIU, within the Department of Transport and provides for a transition from the current Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB. The MAIU, led by a chief...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: Section 52 sets out consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. These include a new definition for the SOLAS Convention in the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952 to take account of the amendments made to the convention in respect of the new Chapter XV on the carriage of industrial personnel. ...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Senators for their contributions, all of which I listened to intently. I will try to answer some of the questions raised. In regard to pre-legislative scrutiny, this was carried out by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. Its report was published on 2 May 2023. Where appropriate, the recommendations of the committee were incorporated in the Bill - for example,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Health Services Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: 480. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 1108 of 5 February 2025, if there has been a change since 2022 to the criteria required to deem a person incapable on medical grounds of regular and effective service, which would allow a HSE employee to retire on grounds of ill health; if the bar for employees seeking to retire on grounds of ill...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: 824. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if local authority pensions are index linked; when the increases take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: 1509. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 721 of 18 February 2025, if she will clarify Section 3 of the Guidelines on Terms and Conditions of HSE Employment regarding incremental credit, if service in the defence forces is recognised as relevant service in Ireland and abroad, and if ‘previous experience in the Civil Service, local authorities, health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: 1847. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1108 of 2 February 2025, if there has been a change to the criteria since 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12452/25]

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Senator. These amendments deal with the experience and qualifications of investigators, the recruitment process and the eligibility requirements for appointment as investigator of the marine accident investigation unit, MAIU. First, I want to address amendments Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, and 11, relating to qualifications, experience and training. Section 9 provides that the MAIU...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I agree it is important we have continuing professional development and keep up to date with all improvements in standards. It is important to note the Bill as set out has agility in relation to people with qualifications or whose qualifications change and is not overly prescriptive about the qualifications required. Otherwise, we would have to change the primary legislation every time...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I believe it was amendment No. 14.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: It concerns the annual report with regard to safety recommendations and the actions taken by bodies and authorities.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: Yes. Section 15 deals with the annual report of the MAIU. It provides that: The annual report shall- (a) identify the marine accidents occurring during the period to which it relates, (b) contain a summary of the position in respect of marine safety investigations ongoing or completed during that year, and (c) provide information on safety recommendations that were issued by the MAIU...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: The section provides for the powers of investigators to give directions to any person in or in the vicinity of a ship or the wreckage of a ship involved in a marine accident. Such directions may prevent or regulate access to the scene of the accident. This is crucial for the preservation of evidence. The nature of investigations is such that an investigator must have powers to give...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: First, the amendments were ruled out by the direction of the Clerk.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: This section prohibits the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information by investigators. Is that the section we are talking about?

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: It prohibits the disclosure of confidential information by investigators, administrative staff of the MAIU, staff of the Department to whom access to information and documents is granted for the purposes of administration and information technology functions, and any consultant or adviser engaged by the unit. This section also provides for the meaning of "maintain confidentiality" with...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: Section 21 on mutual assistance transposes the requirement of the EU directive that the MAIU must co-operate with and provide assistance to the marine safety investigation authorities of other member states for investigations that fall within the scope of the directive and impact on one or more of the member states. It also provides that only one member state should lead an investigation...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. There are a number of matters. There is nothing in the Bill that precludes the MAIU from engaging with the coroner. Nothing in the Bill precludes a coroner from referring to a report of the MAIU during an inquest because questions of liability, whether criminal or civil, are not part of the coronial process. It is a strict requirement of the new...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: Nothing in the Bill precludes the MAIU from engaging with a coroner.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2025)

Seán Canney: Absolutely. In addition, nothing in the Bill precludes coroners from referring to a report of the MAIU in their investigations. This is the kernel of what Senator Higgins is saying, which is that there should be a sharing of information.